Well, for me Aileen.. it was 2 herniated discs at L4/L5 which were compressing the sciatic nerve. I managed it for years with physio, exercise, registered massage therapy, chiropractic treatments and pain killers. Also used an inversion table at home.

It got to the stage where it was impossible for me to 'manage' it, so had the (keyhole) surgery and wished I'd had it well before. Recovered very quickly.

Assuming this is the same as Andy (and I've always suspected it was) he is way younger, fitter and stronger than me.I personally feel good about this for him.

Thanks for that encouragment Linda. I always suspected it was something like this as a friend had a similar condition but refused to have an op - but that was many years ago before keyhole surgery became possible.

Well it didn't take tennisTV long to change their banner for this tournament, for which efficiency they have to be commended, which is more than can be said of the ATP website who still have him playing.

All you can do is try to keep going. Roll with the bad times and appreciate the good ones.

I was diagnosed with it some time ago, hence why i have nothing to do with the negative brigade on here, i try to maintain a positive outlook for everything, else it feels like sometimes i wouldn't be able to cope, i'm the biggest procrastinator i know

I was diagnosed with it some time ago, hence why i have nothing to do with the negative brigade on here, i try to maintain a positive outlook for everything, else it feels like sometimes i wouldn't be able to cope, i'm the biggest procrastinator i know

Unfortunately there are times when I can barely cope, which is why I often disappear for a week or two, but somehow I manage to come through them. My biggest fear is that a day will come when I can't, because that was what happened ten years ago and I spent seven months in a psychiatric hospital, which was one of the most frightening things I've ever experienced. Not only was it a mixed ward (something which should never be allowed even if there are separate dormitories for male and female patients) but some of the patients, particularly among the men, were quite seriously disturbed, which only increased my feelings of anxiety and by so doing hampered my recovery. Medication, after all, can only do so much.

Unfortunately there are times when I can barely cope, which is why I often disappear for a week or two, but somehow I manage to come through them. My biggest fear is that a day will come when I can't, because that was what happened ten years ago and I spent seven months in a psychiatric hospital, which was one of the most frightening things I've ever experienced. Not only was it a mixed ward (something which should never be allowed even if there are separate dormitories for male and female patients) but some of the patients, particularly among the men, were quite seriously disturbed, something which only increased my feelings of anxiety and by so doing only served to hamper my recovery. Medication, after all, can only do so much.

Yeah i know what you mean, the problem is also that depression gets mocked by most people, i got so sick and tired of hearing "oh just cheer up, it's not the end of the world" etc. I think people just think depression is something you feel and can do something about not realising it's actually a very serious illness.

Anyway we're going off topic here, but hopefully you will never get to that stage again, mental breakdowns are not nice, my mum had one a long time ago and it was scary